Treasure Hunters Read Online Free PDF

off. You’ll wake up in an hour or two, and come find me. Then I’ll give you half the credits and you two can split your share. I’ll be praised for finding the e-books, you two can run off and make calf-eyes at each other, and we’re all happy.”
    “You know, that might be a great plan if there
was
a database, Stupid. But since there’s
not
, you really just succeeded in pissing us off. From what I hear of Rick’s reputation, that’s not such a smart thing to have done.”
    Curt stiffened behind her. “What are you talking about?”
    “There. Is. No. Database. Get it? Why do you think no one’s ever found it? It doesn’t exist.”
    “It doesn’t exist?” he cried, shoving her away so he could search her features with his gaze. Rick caught her wrist and jerked her behind him, shielding her with his body.
    “No, Dumb Ass,” Sam snapped. “You know how much research I’ve done, how long I’ve looked, all the places I’ve excavated. There’s nothing to find or someone would have found it by now.”
    “Then why are you here?” Curt waved the blaster wildly toward Rick. “With him.
    Why would you be here if there wasn’t any treasure?”
    She swallowed hard and hazarded a glance up at Rick. His eyes stayed trained on Curt’s weapon and his hand at her waist kept her firmly behind him. Looking at the ground at her feet, she said, “Because I wanted to be with him and this was the only way to do that.”
    “
What?
You’re kidding me.” Rick was eerily silent.
    “No, I’m not. I knew if I told him the treasure was a myth, he’d send me home.”
    “Are you serious, Samantha?” Curt gaped at her. “This has all been for nothing?”
    “If you want the treasure, then yes, this has all been for nothing, which is no less than you deserve for pulling this lame-o stunt.” Her voice lowered. “But for me, I got something out of it. Even if I don’t get to keep him.”
    Curt’s eyes narrowed suspiciously and he jerked his chin at the bag by her feet. “What’s in the bag? Why bring your tools down here, if there wasn’t any need for them?”
    Her face suffused in a burning blush. “They’re not my tools.”
    “I don’t believe you. Open the bag and prove it.”
    “Fuck you,” Rick said. “Put the blaster away.”
    “Not until she opens the bag.”
    Resigned, Sam dropped to a crouch and opened the catch, revealing a variety of sensual accoutrements.
    “Sex toys?” Curt cried.
    She felt the ripple that went through Rick’s powerful frame.
    “Jeez, Sam.” Curt threw up his hands. “You used to be a literary expert, now you’re—”
    Rick’s fist connected with Curt’s jaw with a wince-worthy crack. The professor fell into unconsciousness and slumped at their feet.
    “Wow!” Her eyes widened. “That was so cool. I love it when you get all alpha male.”
    “I’m glad you approve.” He shook his head. “I still can’t believe you slept with this guy.”
    “Don’t remind me. What do we do with him now?”
    “I’m hogtying him and sticking him outside.” He turned to face her, his blue eyes dark with predatory alertness. She took a step backward. “Shit-For-Brains can wait until we’re done. Then I’ll take him and the vid to the authorities.”
    “You were right on about Curt coming after us.”
    “Yeah, and you were right on about bringing the vid to prove it. We’re a good team.”
    Sam zipped up the bag and slung it over her shoulder. “Toss him outside and let’s go. The lift’s here.”
    He stilled. “Go where?”
    “To get the e-books.”
    “You said you didn’t know where they were.”
    “I wasn’t going to tell
him
where they were.” She poked Curt softly with the tip of her boot. “So I lied. I knew that would frustrate him enough to slip and give you an opening. It’s one of the reasons why he sucks at forensic work. He’s had the same information as me, he just couldn’t get it together enough to reach the same conclusions. The vid will prove